FACTSHEET FOR December 2018

Parenting a or WHAT’S INSIDE Who Has Been Sexually Abused: A Guide for Foster Educating yourself Understanding the and Adoptive impact of sexual

As a or of a child or youth who Establishing has a known or suspected history of being sexually guidelines for safety and abused, you may feel confused about the impact of privacy the abuse and uncertain about how you can help. It may be comforting to know that most children and Seeking help youth who have been abused do not go on to abuse Conclusion others, and many live happy, healthy, successful lives. At the same time, all children and youth who have References been abused need to feel safe and loved in nurturing homes. As a parent or caregiver, you can a central role in your child’s healing process, as well as in “building resilience,” which strengthens your child’s ability to adapt to or cope with adversity.

This factsheet discusses how you can help children and youth in your care by educating yourself about child sexual abuse, understanding the impact of the abuse, establishing guidelines for safety and privacy in your family, and seeking help if you need it. Reading this factsheet alone will not guarantee that you will know what to do in every circumstance, but you can use it as a resource for some of the potential challenges and rewards that ahead.

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov —a—Child—or—Youth—Who—Has—Been—Sexually—Abused:—A—Guide—for—Foster—and—Adoptive—Parents https://www.childwelfare.gov

Educating Yourself Signs of Sexual Abuse One of the most useful steps you can take to help your If you are parenting a child or youth who has been child is to educate yourself about both sexual abuse removed from his or her family, you may not know whether and healthy sexual development in children. With this he or she has been sexually abused. Child welfare information, you will more easily recognize behaviors agencies are required to share all known information possibly associated with past or current abuse and avoid about a child’s history with his or her caregiver. However, uncertainty if your child or youth shows uncommon sexual past records of abuse may not exist, and young children behaviors. Most importantly, you may gain confidence or children who are nonverbal may be unable to tell you in supporting your child or youth through a variety of about being abused. Children and youth with disabilities, sensitive questions or situations that may arise. This many of whom cannot interpret or articulate abusive section covers signs and behaviors that may suggest experiences, are at significantly higher of sexual sexual abuse in children and youth, as well as common abuse than their peers without disabilities (Child Welfare healthy sexual development behaviors. Information Gateway, 2018). Moreover, many children do not reveal past abuse until they feel safe. For these What Is Child Sexual Abuse? reasons, foster or adoptive parents or The National Child Traumatic Network (NCTSN) are sometimes the first to learn that a child has been defines child sexual abuse as the following: sexually abused. Therefore, knowing the signs and ——[A]ny—interaction—between—a—child—and—an——(or— behaviors of abuse is critical. another—child)—in—which—the—child—is—used—for—the—sexual— stimulation—of—the—perpetrator—or—an—observer.—Sexual— abuse—can—include—both—touching—and—nontouching— For information on how to learn more about your behaviors.—Nontouching—behaviors—can—include— adopted child, refer to Information Gateway’s —(trying—to—look—at—a—child’s—naked—body),— ,—or—exposing—the—child—to—.— factsheet, Obtaining Background Information on Children—of—all—ages,—races,—ethnicities,—and—economic— Your Prospective Adopted Child, at https://www. backgrounds—may—experience—sexual—abuse.—Child— childwelfare.gov/pubs/f-background/. sexual—abuse—affects—both——and—boys—in—all—kinds—of— neighborhoods—and—communities. For more information, see Child Welfare Information Children who have been sexually abused also may act Gateway’s webpage, Identification of Sexual Abuse, at out—that is, express feelings or sexual impulses that https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/can/identifying/ are odd, excessive, aggressive, or explicit. Although no sex-abuse. one specific sign or behavior proves that sexual abuse has occurred, the following table provides examples of potential warning signs of abuse.

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Table 1. Signs and Behaviors That May Suggest Sexual Abuse in Children and Youth1

Younger Children Older Children and Youth Both Children and Youth

ƒ Imitation of sexual acts with toys or ƒ Unhealthy patterns or unusual ƒ Explicit sexual knowledge beyond the other objects, such as stuffed animals weight gain or weight loss child’s developmental stage ƒ Behavior of a much younger child, like ƒ or ƒ Sexual fixation indicated by language wetting the bed or sucking a thumb ƒ Changes in self-care or paying less or drawings ƒ Refusal to take off clothing at to ƒ Nightmares, trouble sleeping, or appropriate times (e.g., bathing, ƒ Self-harming behaviors or suicidal of the dark going to bed) thoughts ƒ Sudden or extreme mood swings ƒ Sexually transmitted (STIs)2 ƒ Alcohol or drug use (e.g., rage, fear, , , or (especially in children who have not ƒ Running away withdrawal) yet started ) ƒ STIs or ƒ References to a new, older friend ƒ High-risk sexual3 behavior ƒ Unexplained avoidance of certain ƒ Suddenly having money people, places, or activities ƒ , itching, or bleeding in genital areas

These red flags do not always indicate that your child ƒ Darkness to Light or youth has experienced sexual abuse. Rather, these https://www.d2l.org/get-help/identifying-abuse/ actions may reflect an underlying issue, such as physical ƒ U.S. Department of Justice or emotional abuse or unintentional exposure to https://www.nsopw.gov/en/Education/ sexual content. Regardless, a trained professional who RecognizingSexualAbuse specializes in working with children who have been sexually abused should assess whether there is an Healthy Sexual Development in Children and underlying concern. (See the last section of this factsheet, Youth Seeking Help, for more information.) At each developmental stage, children show a range The following organizations offer more information on of healthy sexual behaviors and curiosity. Children’s behavioral signs of sexual abuse: behaviors and curiosity may develop gradually, based on their development, and may be influenced by factors such ƒ Stop It Now! as what they observe and the guidance they receive from http://www.stopitnow.org/ parents and caregivers. Understanding healthy sexual warning_signs_child_behavior development can provide a context in which to consider ƒ The , Abuse and National Network (RAINN) signs and behaviors of possible abuse. The table below https://www.rainn.org/articles/warning-signs-young- lists common behaviors considered healthy for most children and children and youth, according to their developmental https://www.rainn.org/articles/warning-signs-teens phases.

1 Unless noted otherwise, content in the table is adapted from Stop It Now! (n.d.). Tip sheet: Warning signs of possible sexual abuse in a child’s behavior. Retrieved from http://www.stopitnow.org/warning_signs_child_behavior. 2 Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. (n.d.). Warning signs for young children. Retrieved from https://www.rainn.org/articles/warning-signs-young-children. 3 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2017). Adult manifestations of childhood sexual abuse. Retrieved from https://www.acog.org/ Clinical-Guidance-and-Publications/Committee-Opinions/Committee-on--Care-for-Underserved-Women/Adult-Manifestations-of-Childhood-Sexual-Abuse

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Table 2. Common Sexual Development Behaviors in Children and Youth4

Younger Children Older Children and Youth

ƒ Curiosity about their bodies, occasional in ƒ Adherence to social norms around masturbation, likely public and private occurs in private ƒ Consensual, playful exploration of their bodies with ƒ Shared sexual behaviors with peers of a similar age may children of similar age take place ƒ Questions about sexuality, such as “Where do babies ƒ Interest in adult bodies on TV or in the media come from?” ƒ Understanding of pregnancy, HIV, and other STIs ƒ Lack of inhibition about nudity, particularly under age 5 ƒ Capacity to learn about intimate, long-term, loving ƒ Use of slang to describe body parts and jokes about bodily relationships and healthy versus unhealthy relationships functions

Visit http://www.stopitnow.org/ohc-content/what-is- age-appropriate for more information about behaviors Resilience common among different ages of children and behaviors that might be uncommon or unhealthy. Seek According to the American Psychological support by calling the Stop It Now! helpline at 1.888. Association (APA), resilience is the ability to adapt PREVENT (1.888.773.8368). or cope in a positive way to adversity, including trauma, tragedy, threats, and significant stress. Understanding the Impact of Sexual It involves behaviors, thoughts, and actions that Abuse can be learned over time and nurtured through positive relationships with parents, caregivers, If a professional has determined that your child or and other . Resilience in children and youth youth has been sexually abused, or if you suspect who have experienced sexual abuse enables them that he or she has been abused, understanding the to thrive despite this traumatic event. impact of abusive experiences may provide important insights into how sexual abuse has affected your child’s For ways to help your child or youth build behavior. resilience, refer to Information Gateway’s tip sheet, Building Resilience in Children and Impact of Sexual Abuse on Children and Teens, at https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/ Youth preventing/preventionmonth/resources/ Sexual abuse violates physical and emotional tip-sheets/. For more general information on boundaries. Children and youth who have been abused resilience visit the APA website at http://www.apa. may see the world as unsafe and adults as manipulative org/helpcenter/road-resilience.aspx. and untrustworthy, or they may lack boundaries and be unaware when they are in unsafe situations. Many factors influence how children think and feel about the abuse they experienced, how it affects them, and how they develop resilience.

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Factors that can contribute to the impact of abuse include the following: Trauma ƒ Relationship of the abuser to the child or youth; Children who have been sexually abused may still extent that the abuse was a betrayal of within an be affected by the trauma associated with that important relationship (e.g., the perpetrator is a experience when they come into care. Trauma verses a neighbor) is an emotional response to an intense event ƒ Frequency and duration of abuse; whether penetration that threatens or causes harm. Understanding occurred the effects of trauma can help you support your ƒ Child’s age (young children may experience more child’s healing and improve family dynamics. For adverse consequences) more detailed information about trauma, refer ƒ Child’s emotional and social development at the time to Information Gateway’s factsheet, Parenting of the abuse a Child Who Has Experienced Trauma, at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/ ƒ Child’s ability to cope with physical responses to the child-trauma/. abuse (e.g., fear and arousal) ƒ How much responsibility the child or youth feels for the abuse (e.g., not telling an adult about it right away or Set clear limits and seek appropriate professional help for stopping it somehow) children whose behavior persists. not to over- ƒ Response to the child when he or she reveals the or underrespond to situations will help you care for your abuse children with empathy and confidence in your parenting ƒ Abuser’s use of “friendliness” and efforts to make the and in the healing process. child a willing participant Children may respond to sexual abuse in varied ways. ƒ Abuser’s use of threats of harm or , including Some may act withdrawn and appear timid in social threats to , , or parents situations, while others may be angry and aggressive. ƒ Abuser’s use of secrecy and threats to withdraw Some may require special attention and firm limits to be and affection set, and others may act out when situations, locations, or everyday items trigger memories of a traumatic ƒ Gender of the abuser being the same as or different event. Triggers occur unexpectedly by a variety of from the child (e.g., children and youth are less likely to circumstances, and children may not be aware of their report sexual activity with the same gender) triggers. These may include situations as specific as Children and youth must understand that they are not seeing someone who looks like the abuser or as general to for the abuse they experienced. Your family’s as being alone in a public restroom or other location that immediate response to and ongoing acceptance of your is a reminder of where the abuse took place. child’s abuse will play a critical role in your child’s ability In addition, awareness of cultural differences can offer to heal, build resilience, and lead a healthy . (See the insights regarding your child’s comfort level with physical last section of this factsheet, Seeking Help, for more space, physical affection, bathing and nudity practices, information about healing from abuse.) hygiene, and other factors that can lead to unwanted If you are concerned when your child acts out sexually situations. For example, in where parents do with peers or younger children, respond calmly and take not discuss sexuality directly with their children, or child into account your child’s development and the trauma he sexual activity of any type are unacceptable (e.g., children or she has endured. Children are likely asking for limits to touching themselves), children may carry and be set and may be unaware of appropriate boundaries. about their bodies.

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Impact of Sexual Abuse on the Family When a child or youth has been sexually abused, his or Parenting a child or youth who has experienced sexual her parents can often become protective of them. Parents abuse can be stressful to and relationships. It can provide strategies to help their children protect may require couples to be more open with each other and themselves, but parents are ultimately responsible for their children about sexuality in general and sexual issues protecting and keeping their children safe. Finding a specifically. If one parent is more involved in addressing balance between reasonable worry and overprotection the issue than another, the imbalance can create is important. Useful strategies to prevent further abuse difficulties in the parental relationship. If issues emerge, may include teaching your children or youth to stand up getting professional advice can be helpful. for themselves, talking with them about being in charge of their bodies, and encouraging open communication about anything—not just sexual abuse. Help for a Parent Who Was Establishing Family Guidelines for Sexually Abused Safety and Privacy If you were (or suspect you may have been) Establishing family guidelines for safety and privacy is sexually abused as a child, parenting a child critical, as survivors of sexual abuse are vulnerable to or youth who also has been sexually abused later abuse. Some children and youth who have been may be particularly challenging. Reading this sexually abused have heightened sensitivities to situations factsheet may have also brought up difficult that involve physical , evoke sexual innuendo, thoughts and feelings. A list of resource or include implicit or explicit sexual content. Practicing organizations for adults who were abused as some of the following guidelines may make your home a children is available on the Information Gateway comfortable place for children or youth who have been website at https://www.childwelfare.gov/ abused. It may also reduce your vulnerability to abuse organizations/?CWIGFunctionsaction=rols:main. allegations by children living with you: dspList&rolType=Custom&RS_ID=67. ƒ Respect every family member’s comfort level with touching, hugging, and kissing. Encourage children and adults to respect the comfort and privacy of others.

In addition, if one parent or caregiver was more in favor of ƒ Be cautious with playful touch, such as play fighting fostering or adopting than the other, general stress may and tickling. This type of play may be uncomfortable increase, especially when children or youth have a range or trigger memories of sexual abuse. of behaviors that require attention. Some parents become ƒ Be mindful that some children who have resentful toward or withdrawn from foster or adoptive experienced sexual abuse may not have healthy children who require a lot of time and energy. boundaries. Teach your children and the entire family about healthy age-appropiate boundaries. Parents can also feel stress around their child’s siblings, (To learn more about communicating respectfully who may not be used to openly sexual language or and reassuringly about boundaries, visit http://www. behavior. If a child or youth is acting out sexually, you stopitnow.org/ohc-content/tip-sheet-8.) may need to talk with their siblings about what they see, think, and feel as well as how to respond. Children ƒ Teach children and youth the importance of privacy. may also need guidance about what to say to friends Remind children to knock before entering bathrooms about their ’s behaviors. If they see that you are and bedrooms and model privacy and respect. actively managing the situation, they may feel more ƒ Keep adult sexuality private. Adult caretakers need secure and will worry less, which could help foster open to pay special attention to intimacy and sexuality when communication within the family. young children with a history of sexual abuse are around.

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Other family guidelines for safety and privacy include Sexual Messages From the Media supervising and monitoring children’s play. If you know that your child has a history of sexual abuse, supervise and While some children and youth who have monitor his or her play with siblings or other children in experienced sexual abuse become overstimulated your home. Some children require constant supervision— or disturbed by sexual content in various media, they cannot be left alone with younger children for even others use screen time to excessively watch a moment. Consider placing locks or bells on bedroom pornography or inappropriate, sexualized Internet doors so you can track a child’s movements at night. videos. For these children or youth, limiting Other measures, such as audio and visual monitors or computer time and monitoring social media may installing door alarms, can also help ensure safety. encourage discussions on meaningful topics, such as the harmful effects of pornography, If your teen has a history of sexual abuse, maintaining dangers of online sexual grooming, and showing open communication is advisable. Knowing who your respect for themselves and others online. For youth is with and what he or she is doing and setting clear more information on monitoring social media use, expectations for check-ins can enhance communication staying safe online, the effects of pornography on and mitigate high-risk behavior. To learn more about children, and tips to help parents promote healthy positive ways to supervise youth, visit https://www.cdc. sexuality see the following resources: gov/healthyyouth/protective/pdf/parental_monitoring_ factsheet.pdf. ƒ Social Media: Tips for Foster Parents and Caregivers (Information Gateway) https://www. Practicing responses to children and youth who exhibit childwelfare.gov/pubs/smtips-parent/ sexual behavior issues prepares you to help children ƒ Internet and Digital Media Safety develop self-awareness and learn to respect others. Prevention (Stop It Now!) https:// Encourage your children to talk to you or another trusted www.stopitnow.org/ohc-content/ adult if they want to engage in inappropriate sexual internet-and-digital-media-safety-prevention behavior, and let them know it’s OK to talk about the feelings they’re having. For children and youth who have ƒ Understanding the Effects of Pornography been abused, you can say, “Just like it was not okay for on Children (Prevent America) so-and-so to touch your private parts, it’s not okay for you http://preventchildabuse.org/resource/ to touch other people’s private parts.” You might also give understanding-the-effects-of-pornography- clear directives like, “We don’t use that language in this on-children/ house,” or “I’d like you to use different words so that we ƒ Predators 101: An Introduction (Enough can really hear what you’re saying.” To learn more about Is Enough) https://internetsafety101.org/ helping your children or youth who have sexual behavior internetpredators issues, visit https://www.stopitnow.org/ohc-content/ children-and-youth-with-sexual-behavior-problems.

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If your child has demonstrated inappropriate touching For more information about visual supervision and or sexually aggressive behaviors, you may need to take creating a safety plan for your family, see the following additional steps, such as creating a family safety plan, resources: to help ensure safety for your child as well as his or ƒ Safety Planning (National Center on the Sexual her peers. Consider how these tips may apply to your Behavior of Youth) http://www.ncsby.org/content/ situation: safety-planning ƒ With friends. If your child has known issues with ƒ Tip Sheet: Create a Family Safety Plan (Stop It touching other children, you will need to ensure Now!) http://www.stopitnow.org/ohc-content/ constant supervision by informing other caregivers tip-sheet-create-a-family-safety-plan when he or she is playing with friends, whether at your home or theirs. You should be able to see your Even as sexual behaviors diminish, continue to look for child at all times when he or she is with other children. changes over time. These sexual behaviors can reemerge Constant supervision will help to ensure safety for all as children develop, so do not be discouraged if this children and prevent the sexually aggressive behaviors occurs. Because sexual behavior may be a reaction to from becoming a habit. Sleepovers may not be a good stress, it is also important to remove stressors from the idea when children have touching issues. child’s life as much as possible. ƒ At . Working closely with the school to set up a For more information about communicating with safety plan for children or youth with aggressive sexual children or youth who have sexual behavior issues, behaviors ensures an appropriate level of supervision see Parenting Children or Youth Who Are Sexually and protects everyone involved. The plan should Reactive at https://www.nacac.org/resource/ address concerns such as bathrooms and locker rooms, parenting-children-or-youth-who-are-sexually-reactive/. lunch, recess, transitions between classes, field trips, For information on working with your child’s therapist, see and other situations. Children or youth who have been the Counseling for Parents and Children section of this sexually abused should not be alone with one teacher. factsheet on page 9. At lease one additional teacher should be in the room. ƒ In the community. Setting up a safety plan with Seeking Help coaches, camp counselors, and other adults who are Responding to the needs of a child or youth who has monitoring your child also may be useful. Children been sexually abused may involve the entire family with sexual behavior concerns should not be given and will likely affect family relationships. authoritative roles over other children. If your child professionals (e.g., counselors, therapists, or social has these issues, do not ask him or her to watch over workers) can help your family cope with reactions, younger children at any time. If your child or youth is thoughts, and feelings about the abuse. Look for a mental focused on specific individuals, make sure he or she is health professional with a background in sexual abuse, not alone or placed together in small groups. , and child trauma. (See the Where to Find and What to Look for in a Mental Health Professional section of this factsheet on page 10 for more information.) For an example of a safety plan, visit the Stop It Before agreeing to with a particular provider, ask Now! website at https://www.stopitnow.org/sites/ questions about the person’s background, experience, default/files/documents/files/section_2.3.pdf. and approach to treating children. (Growing evidence Although this example is intended for foster supports using certain types of interventions; see pages 9 families, the suggested family rules may be and 10 for more information.) equally helpful for adoptive families.

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Counseling for Parents and Children Not all children who have been abused require therapy. Working with a specialized mental health professional as For those who do, the mental health professional will soon as issues arise can help you determine if your child’s develop a plan tailored to the child and to the family’s behavior is cause for concern. Specialists can also provide strengths. This plan may include one or more of the guidance in responding to your child’s difficulties; offer following types of therapy: suggestions for how to talk with him or her; and offer ƒ Individual therapy. The style of therapy will depend suggestions for creating structured, safe, and nurturing on the child’s age and the therapist’s training. Some environments. therapists use creative techniques (e.g., art, play, and music therapy) to help children or youth who are Many mental health professionals begin with a thorough uncomfortable talking about their experiences. assessment exploring how a child or youth functions in various areas of life. The specialist will want to know about ƒ Group therapy. Meeting in groups with other children the following: or youth who have been sexually abused or who have developed sexual behavior issues can help children ƒ Past stressors (e.g., history of abuse, frequent moves, understand themselves; feel less alone; and learn new and other losses) skills through play, role playing, discussion, and games. ƒ Current stressors (e.g., a medical problem or learning ƒ Family therapy. Many therapists will see children disability) and parents together to support positive parent- ƒ Emotional state (e.g., Is the child or youth usually child communication and to guide parents in learning happy or anxious?) new skills that will help their children feel better and ƒ Coping strategies (e.g., Does the child withdraw or act support healthy behaviors. out when angry or sad?) Regardless of whether therapy for the family is advised, ƒ Friendships (e.g., Does the child have challenges parents should stay involved in their child’s treatment plan making or maintaining friends?) and therapy sessions. Skilled professionals will always ƒ Strengths (e.g., Is the youth creative, athletic, seek to involve the parents by asking for and sharing organized?) information. Parents can benefit from professionals who understand the parenting needs of a child who has ƒ Communication skills (e.g., Can the child communicate experienced sexual abuse. appropriately for his or her age?) ƒ Attachments to adults in his or her life (e.g., Does the Some forms of therapy are designed for dealing with child seem comfortable around adults?) trauma in general and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) specifically. ƒ Activities (e.g., time spent watching TV, using the Internet, playing video games) ƒ Trauma-Informed Therapy. This therapy acknowledges the impact of trauma and recognizes After a thorough assessment, the professional will decide that even a child who is not old enough to remember if the child and family could benefit from therapy. A a traumatic event may still experience its effects. child’s social worker can help you understand your child’s Trauma-informed therapy focuses on processing assessments and select the most appropriate form of traumatic memories and experiences so they become therapy. The social worker will assist you in finding a tolerable. For information about types of trauma- therapist with the right credentials for your child and informed therapy, refer to Information Gateway’s family as well as help you understand insurance coverage factsheet Finding and Working With - and payment plans. Competent Therapists at https://www.childwelfare.gov/ pubs/f-therapist/.

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ƒ PTSD Therapy. Children and youth who are coping ƒ Child advocacy centers (http://www.nationalcac.org/ with symptoms of PTSD may be dealing with flashbacks find-a-cac/) and nightmares. They may be easily frightened and ƒ Rape crisis or centers (https://centers. experience outbursts of anger and negative thoughts rainn.org/) and distorted feelings. Approaches such as cognitive ƒ Child abuse hotlines (See Information Gateway’s processing therapy, eye movement desensitization State Child Abuse and Reporting and reprocessing, and group therapy can reduce Numbers at https://www.childwelfare.gov/ symptoms of PTSD. For more about PTSD therapy, organizations/?CWIGFunctionsaction=rols:main. see https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental- dspList&rolType=Custom&RS_ID=%205) Health-Conditions/Posttraumatic-Stress-Disorder/ Treatment. ƒ NCTSN maintains a list of its members that specialize in research and/or treatment (https://www.nctsn.org/ Several evidence-based programs have been found useful about-us/network-members) for treating children who have been sexually abused and ƒ Nonprofit service providers serving families of missing their families. Websites with descriptions include the or exploited children following: ƒ Hospitals with child and adolescent protection centers ƒ The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare lists programs for the treatment ƒ -victim assistance programs in a enforcement of sexual behavior issues in adolescents (http:// agency or in a prosecutor or district attorney’s office www.cebc4cw.org/topic/sexual-behavior- ƒ Group mental health private practices with a problems-in-adolescents-treatment-of/) and specialization in trauma services in children (http://www.cebc4cw.org/topic/ ƒ Family court services, including court-appointed sexual-behavior-problems-in-children-treatment-of/). special advocate groups or guardians ad litem (http:// ƒ NCTSN includes information about trauma-informed www.casaforchildren.org) treatment for sexual abuse (https://www.nctsn.org/ ƒ American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/sexual-abuse#q3). (https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/ Where to Find and What to Look for in a Facts_for_Families/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/ Mental Health Professional Resources/CAP_Finder.aspx) Finding an experienced mental health professional who ƒ American Psychological Association (https://locator. specializes in treating children who have been sexually apa.org/) abused is key to getting the help your family needs. Some Therapy for children who have been sexually abused communities have special programs for treating children is specialized work. When selecting a mental health who have been sexually abused (e.g., child advocacy professional, look for the following: centers and teams). The organizations ƒ An advanced degree in a recognized mental health and resources below also may provide specialists in your specialty, such as psychiatry (M.D.), (Ph.D. community. or Psy.D.), social work (M.S.W.), counseling (L.P.C.), ƒ Stop It Now! and family therapy (M.F.T.), or psychiatric ○ (https://www.stopitnow.org/ohc-content/ nursing (R.N.) healing-and-support-for-children-and-parents) ƒ Licensure to practice as a mental health professional in ○ (https://www.stopitnow.org/ohc-content/finding- your State and-choosing-professional-treatment-and-support)

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ƒ Special training in treating child sexual abuse and the Conclusion dynamics of abuse, how abuse affects children and As the parent of a child or youth who has been or may adults, and the use of goal-oriented treatment plans have been sexually abused, you have an opportunity ƒ Knowledge about the legal issues involved in child to provide comfort and security as well as help him or sexual abuse, especially the about reporting her build resilience and effective coping strategies for child sexual victimization, procedures used by law the trauma they have or may have endured. Creating enforcement and protective services, evidence a structured, safe, and nurturing home is the greatest collection, and expert testimony in your State that you can give to all of your children. Seek help ƒ A willingness to collaborate with other professionals when you need it, share your successes with your social involved in your family’s care worker or other community supports, and remember that a healthy relationship with your children allows them to If you are interested in finding a support group for begin and advance the healing process. parents, visit Information Gateway’s Parent Support Group Programs webpage at https://www.childwelfare. References gov/topics/preventing/prevention-programs/parent- Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2016). Mandatory support-groups/support-group-programs/ or see the reporters of child sexual abuse and neglect. Retrieved National and Adoption Directory at https:// from https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/ www.childwelfare.gov/nfcad/. laws-policies/statutes/manda/ Your Child Welfare Agency Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2018). The risk and If you are a caregiver or parent, or if you are seeking to prevention of maltreatment of children with disabilities. adopt a child, you may wish to talk with your social worker Retrieved from https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/ about what you discover about your child’s history and prevenres/focus/ any behaviors that worry you. Sharing your concerns will help your social worker assist you and your family. If your Suggested Citation: child or youth exhibits sexual behavior issues toward other children, be aware that you may also be required Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2018). Parenting a to report these to child protective services to comply child or youth who has been sexually abused: A guide with mandated reporting laws in your jurisdiction (Child for foster and adoptive parents. Washington, DC: Welfare Information Gateway, 2016). U.S.Department of Health and Services, Children’s Bureau. For more information about services available after adoption, see the following Information Gateway resources: ƒ Accessing Adoption Support and Preservation Services (factsheet) https://www.childwelfare.gov/ pubs/f-postadoption/ ƒ Parenting After Adoption (webpage) https://www. childwelfare.gov/topics/adoption/adopt-parenting/

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Administration on Children, Youth and Families Children’s Bureau